UNION COUNTY, NC (WBTV) – Students in Public Schools in Union County Students will return to school on Monday with new safety protocols in place.
The district works closely with law enforcement on safety decisions, and five schools will be adding School Resource Officers (SROs) later this year. This means that by the end of the year, every school in the district will have an SRO.
There will also be additional security measures at sporting events after fights broke out at football games last year, prompting the district to implement three new policies: a clear bag policy, requiring all elementary and middle school students to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and stopping ticket sales at halftime.
New this year: The district received a state grant to purchase full-body scanners.
“Many of the same types of body scanners you see at professional sporting events,” said UCPS Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan. “These will be used at our home college football games, as well as fans and visitors coming to the game, as a proactive measure to protect our staff, our families and our players.”
The district will continue lockdown measures at unusual times, such as arrival and discharge, as a good test to ensure everyone is prepared in the event of an emergency.
UCPS also encourages students to use the “Say something” anonymous reporting system if they notice anything suspicious. Tips can be submitted by phone, website or mobile app.
Related: Union Co. graduate begins teaching career with support from TeachUCPS program
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